Serving as the seat of Colleton County, Walterboro is a historic South Carolina city that has been nicknamed the “Front Porch of the Lowcountry”. It was founded in 1783 as Hickory Valley, a summer retreat for planters escaping the malarial conditions of the Lowcountry and was later renamed Walterboro after two of its earliest settlers, Paul and Jacob Walter.
Things to do in Walterboro
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the Walterboro Historic District, which includes the Greek Revival-style Fripp-Fishburne House with its soaring Ionic columns. Admire the stuccoed brick building of the Old Colleton County Jail and the reinforced concrete Water Tower, which was constructed in 1915. Also heritage-listed is the Walterboro Library Society Building, which is now home to the Colleton County Historical Society.
If you’re interested in the local history, pay a visit to the Colleton County Museum, which houses exhibits and artefacts related to the region’s natural resources and plantation-era past. It also hosts a popular farmers' market where local producers and artisans sell their wares. A short stroll from the Colleton County Museum is Bedon-Lucas House, a beautifully preserved “high house” dating back to 1820.
On the edge of town is the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary, a 240-hectare swamp home to beavers, wild cats and a staggering diversity of birds. It’s the largest estuarine sanctuary on the East Coast of the United States and is traversed by boardwalk trails and accessible by kayak. Stop in at the Discovery Center to explore its interactive exhibits detailing the local fauna and flora.
Getting around Walterboro
Walterboro is just over an hour’s drive from Charleston and Charleston International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Buses travel to Walterboro and the town is small enough to explore on foot.